Part 12 (1/2)
”Don Aloysius!” quickly exclaimed the Marchese, and every one rose to greet the newcomer, Morgana receiving him with a profound reverence. He laid his hand on her head with a kindly touch of benediction.
”So the dreamer has come to her dream!” he said, in soft accents--”And it has not broken like an air-bubble!--it still floats and s.h.i.+nes!” As he spoke he courteously saluted all present by a bend of his head,--and stood for a moment gazing at the view of the sea and the dying sunset.
He was a very striking figure of a man--tall, and commanding in air and att.i.tude, with a fine face which might be called almost beautiful. The features were such as one sees in cla.s.sic marbles--the full clear eyes were set somewhat widely apart under shelving brows that denoted a brain with intelligence to use it, and the smile that lightened his expression as he looked from, the sea to his fair hostess was of a benignant sweetness.
”Yes”--he continued--”you have realised your vision of loveliness, have you not? Our friend Giulio Rivardi has carried out all your plans?”
”Everything is perfect!” said Morgana--”Or will be when it is finished.
The workmen still have things to do.”
”All workmen always have things to do!” said Don Aloysius, tranquilly--”And nothing is ever finished! And you, dear child!--you are happy?”
She flushed and paled under his deep, steady gaze.
”I--I think so!” she murmured--”I ought to be!”
The priest smiled and after a pause took the chair which the Marchese Rivardi offered him. The other guests in the loggia looked at him with interest, fascinated by his grave charm of manner. Morgana resumed her seat.
”I ought to be happy”--she said--”And of course I am--or I shall be!”
”'Man never is but always to be blest'!” quoted Colonel Boyd--”And woman the same! I have been telling this lady, reverend father, that maybe she will find her 'palazzo' a bit lonesome without some one to share its pleasures.”
Don Aloysius looked round with a questioning glance.
”What does she herself think about it?” he asked, mildly.
”I have not thought at all”--said Morgana, quickly, ”I can always fill it with friends. No end of people are glad to winter in Sicily.”
”But will such 'friends' care for YOU or YOUR happiness?” suggested the Marchese, pointedly.
Morgana laughed.
”Oh, no, I do not expect that! Nowadays no one really cares for anybody else's happiness but their own. Besides, I shall be much too busy to want company. I'm bent on all sorts of discoveries, you know!--I want to dive 'deeper than ever plummet sounded'!”
”You will only find deeper depths!” said Don Aloysius, slowly--”And in the very deepest depth of all is G.o.d!”
There was a sudden hush as he spoke. He went on in gentle accents.
”How wonderful it is that He should be THERE,--and yet HERE! No one need 'dive deep' to find Him. He is close to us as our very breathing!
Ah!” and he sighed--”I am sorry for all the busy 'discoverers'--they will never arrive at the end,--and meanwhile they miss the clue--the little secret by the way!”
Another pause ensued. Then Morgana spoke, in a very quiet and submissive tone.
”Dear Don Aloysius, you are a 'religious' as they say--and naturally you mistrust all seekers of science--science which is upsetting to your doctrine.”
Aloysius raised a deprecating hand.
”My child, there is no science that can upset the Source of all science! The greatest mathematician that lives did not inst.i.tute mathematics--he only copies the existing Divine law.”
”That is perfectly true”--said the Marchese Rivardi--”But la Signora Royal means that the dogma of the Church is in opposition to scientific discovery--”
”I have not found it so”--said Don Aloysius, tranquilly--”We have believed in what you call your 'wireless telephony'--for centuries;--when the Sanctus bell rings at Ma.s.s, we think and hope a message from Our Lord comes to every wors.h.i.+pper whose soul is 'in tune'